Catching Behavior

When training your dog, there are a number of easy ways you can get her to perform the desired behavior. One of the easiest force-free ways to teach your dog a behavior is by 'catching' her in the act of the behavior.

The concept of catching a behavior is that you identify and reward behaviors or actions that your dog performs without a cue from you or anyone else, thus making it more likely that the dog will repeat that behavior or action again.

This method works wonderfully for basic cues like 'sit' and 'down,' because your dog naturally performs these behaviors on her own.

How to Catch a Behavior (Example: 'Sit')

Wait for your dog to sit on her own, and then immediately give a verbal marker like 'yes!' followed by a reward.

You can use your dog’s favorite treats or toy as a reward, or simply praise if your dog is praise-motivated.